care reform is taking a toll on president obama's approval ratings. >> it could be costing him future votes. rebecca joins us with more. >> when barack obama was sworn in, he was enjoying the highest approval ratings of any incoming president. while he still faces challenges, polls show that health care debates are causing the biggest decline in his popularity. a new poll only shows only four in 10 things that president obama is doing a good job handling the health care issue. the approval rating showed a 69% of americans approved of the job he was doing. only 13% disapproved. today, 52% apove, 42% disapproved. >> i think that people don't

light -- and don't like how much he wants government to do for us. >> those that do like the president say that health care is not easy to fix. >> he is taking on an awful lot of work to get done in a short period of time. >> he needs to be more up front and clear with people. a lot of people feel like they are missing that, not a really clear-cut message. he's to be more decisive. >> the biggest problem? people have grown disenchanted. >> the health-care issue is a matter of private business. it is not a right under the constitution. i am very dissatisfied with the job the president is doing. >> today, white house officials said that the administration has decided to go on a go at alone

strategy. he wants a bipartisan bill with broad support. members of congress continue to hold a town hall meetings to explain the truth and myths about the president's plan. while most lawmakers are trying to keep arguing to a minimum, barney frank dished it right back to one woman who called the president goes to health plan 8 not see -- a nazi plicy? -- policy? >> on what planet you spend most of your time? arguing with you is like arguing with a dining room table, i have no interest in doing it. >> people who have insurance won't lose it, and medicare recipients will not have their coverage cut. a series of coordinated car bombings and mortar attacks occurred in iraq.

bodies continue to be pulled from the rubble and the prime minister says the government must reevaluate security failings. it is a spike in attacks since theyithdrew from the major cities. 6 american troops in the six afghan election workers were killed today. the taliban is threatening to attack polling places tomorrow. they're trying to keep out journalists from reporting on election day violence. americans are vry unsure about the u.s. role in afghanistan. a new abc news washington poll shows that a majority of americans say, considering the cost against the benefits, the war in afghanistan is not worth fighting. 45% of the polls say they should -- say we should decrease the number of troops. the medical records of the

virginia tech shooter have been released. he denied homicidal thoughts to a school counselor. the records come from free counseling sessions after he was detained in a mental hospital overnight for suicidal thoughts. it took place more than a year before the shooting rampage. to read the entire report, you can go to our website. an arrest hasee b made in a case of arson that injured a prince george's county firefighter. he became trapped in a house fire at suffered burns and smoke inhalation. there arrested john daniels, a junior. he is charged with reckless endangerment. at some homes and businesses in alexandria are without water after a major water main broke near duke street. the road remains closed as

repairs get under way. >> we are told the water main has been fixed, but a lot of work remains tonight. as you can see, the road has to be repaved before it reopens, and the water line has to be flush clean before hundreds of people get their services back. hundreds of residents and hotel guests in the area can't wait to get back to some normalcy after being without water or power of for about 10 hours. >> it makes you wonder what we did before modern plumbing and electricity. >> water began showering the pavement early this morning. it challenging fix for cruz. -- a challenging fix for crews. the entire hotel has been left high and dry. it the only way out is to use this grassy hill as a ramp.

>> my boy is the same way in the room. but there is no air conditioning, coat -- and so we are really stuck in there. >> he is cut -- carrying this jug of water, but not for drinking. >> hopefully it will become a bath or a shower. >> half a dozen businesses are losing thousands of dollars in sales. >> i came out here to make sure the various businesses would not be serving food. >> we understand about 600 hotel guests have been affected. the staff has been able to relocate some of them. as for the work down here on the road, they hope to have a line and everything cleaned up and water restored and the next few hours. live inlexandria, john gonzales, abc news.

and other traffic advisory in arlington. a driver crashed into a utity pole on wilson boulevard, knocking down wires. the ad is still shut down, and drivers who use arlington boulevard or lee highwayth can e them as alternate routes. coming up, the jobs prince george's county is threatening to cut. >> sponsoring residents may have a new option on how they can commute by rail. >> virginia's financial problems keep getting worse. protests against against at your chevy dealer.

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after a federal judge ruled that prince george's county furloughs are unconstitutional, they are threatening massive layoffs. a plan that is in the works to lay off 300 police officers and firefighters if the county loses pending appeals. some residents say the county should be able to make budget cuts elsewhere. people are relative to get public education out from under the budget axe. he announced for the fourth time in the year that the state budget is in the red. this time, he has to cut $1.5

billion, and public education will not be scared. the announcement came before the general assembly kicked off a special session. and legislators and a deep special session after dealing with a supreme court ruling. the law establishes new procedures in which live reports are used as evidence. the supreme court said that prosecutors must make evidence available for cross-examination about the lab reports of drunk and drugged driving cases. the man who created 60 minutes has died. he produced the first televised presidential debate in 1960 and started 60 minutes in 1968. he produced the show for 36 years. and he di in his, pancreatic cancer. he was 86 years old. next, the push for a new

stop, but who will be paying for it? >> the story is out there, and folks are talking. i will show you this shot right now, as you will want to see it again later in sports. this is a college kid. it has made this guy at internet superstars. yo late ell late

a> remond morere peoplut cmmo he t.c. areahe -- >> ad remo people are asking for a new station in the county. what has to happen to extend the lines? this is the only choice for writers right now, but leaders have voted to extend past fredericksburg. one ofthe fastest-growing counties must drive half an hour to get to fredericksburg to catch the train. >> is a little ways to go back and forth to get to d.c. every day.

>> the only option is here at the fredericksburg's station right now, where parking spaces are at a premium. and a sellout very quickly every morning. >> [unintelligible] >> i guess it would be easier to get the trains to go all the way to -- >> part of the funding would come to a gas -- come through the gas tax. >> the train makes a lot more sense than trying add more to the parking lot, because it will make it easier for commuters to go to the train there and get on instead of driving over here. >> funding to create high occupancy lanes -- rail is the y ago. -- to go. >> they do a hundred miles more than they can do on these

highways within a same period of time. t ou theinl out in the atlantic and is now category four. this picture of bill was taken this morning from the international space station. people up and down the east coast are waiting to see how close it will get to the united states. >> it is still way down in the tropical atlantic, hundreds of miles east northeast of san juan. let's start ofur coverage and take a look at the weather. one of these heavy thunderstorms have developed -- we believe is a cumulushe congestus. it could be on final jeopardy one night. >> it sounds like itas h a cold. tt>>y pre much.

hereha wist we have. more circulation, this is the same complex could hahave have created a possible tornado. the damaging winds are moving out, pushing away from the area out into the bay. it is kind of repeating some moderate and heavy rain showers in the area. our storms can shows north and west of hagerstown, we will keep an eye on that for those north and west of the district. let's go from local down to the atlantic and talk about bill. the category four. the storm is swirling. the winds are reported at 133 miles per hour gusting to 162. it is going to get close enough that bermuda will get some really strong squalls, some high wind gusts, and also a lot of

high seas. and there will be large swells and possibly strong waves along the mid-atlantic and new england coast. i will tell you our weather story. it is a hot day. i enough clout to keep it below the 80 -- at the 90 degree mark. 88 the official high. 90 in hagerstown, 90 in frederick. but the parts of southern maryland, only in the 70's right now. not quite finished with this hot, steamy air mass. it will keep us he met a few more days, but look at minneapolis. a strong cold front is on the move. you can see all the moisture consolidated on the eastern core of the country. all this will be squeezed out by late saturday, but until then, more showers and thunderstorms.

he's the, warm, and he met overnight as we approach -- hazy, warm, and humid overnight. it looks like beautiful weather with good stuff for us on sunday and monday. are the nats in a general manager? >> they are not saying anything. theitwo games above 500, 11 and 5 in the month of august. they won eight of their last nine at home. the next acting gm should be canonized, right? there is a story that he will not be made full-time general manager, but they might hire the arizona diamondbacks vice president. they want to jump out and make a statement for public-relations statements if nothing else.

he will be inown friday to meet the media and celebrate the future with the fans. along with ryan zimmerman, strasbourg is the face of that future. >> that is the whole point of the draft. so now we're going in the right direction, committed to doing better and spending money. >> now if you could just tired or gm. that loss came last night, they will play colorado again tonight on south capitol street. he slips into right field, -- oh, my what a catch. a tough day at redskins park. mike williams will probably not

play against the steelers on saturday night, because is the offensive line that has everybody concerned. it is an area that has to be improved. jason campbell is the first to tell you he needs protection. the offense has to be able to run in read them and throw on time. -- in rhythm, and trhow on time. -- and throw on time. >> we need to get points on the board, get a couple of drives the other. >> his first day with the minnesota vikings was the only -- the geriatric quarterback says he still has it good. he was much sharper today than yesterday, and he got everybody's attention with his arm strength. favre is feeling good, ready to start friday night against the chiefs. there is this a shot by kansas

state player. watch this. off the scoreboard, off the floor, and he got it. this video has more than 40,000 viewers. it is turned him into an internet superstar. he scored 44 against texas' last year. this made him a superstar. isn'that incredible? there's something big happening at pizza hut. - woooh, nice! - that's a lot of food! now get big meals like our stuffed pizza rolls, pizza mia, the p'zone... and our personal panormous pizza starting at just $5. the big eat tiny price menu. only at pizza hut.

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> you may speak. >> thank you for that. very heavy rain hang on just south of the county. it will be out of the picture before long. here is what we expect for the next seven days. scattered storms tomorrow afternoon. more likely to be widespread friday and saturday. it will bring pleasant weather for sunday, monday, and tuesday. tuesday around the area. >> abc world news coming up next.

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